I've finally reached a turning point. The point where I'm ready to GET RID of things. Sure, I've had garage sales and let things go in the past, but this time I'm serious. I'm past thinking "Maybe I'll need this at our next house," or "Maybe I'll need this for a new vignette," or "Maybe I'll need this for fill in the blank ". I'm actually ready to get rid of every little thing I'm tired of or I don't LOVE completely. I'm ready to be brutal.
That's a big deal for me. I have LOTS of pretty things that I enjoy rotating and switching in and out of use, but it's stuff that crowding every nook and cranny of our closets and cabinets and garage and attic, and I'm D.O.N.E. Actually, I'm feeling a bit suffocated by it all, so it's time. I think I had to get to the point of feeling that way to be ready to let go of so much. I'm ready to value the space rather than the stuff.
I mean really, who has a drawer FULL of scented candles? Me.
And that's not even my decorative candles. Those have a cabinet all their own. I have 3 boxes full from a few drawers in my entry dresser and the living room cabinets. That's a very small start, and we have miles to go.
I even have a few furniture items I'm ready to part with, including this sofa (after living with it for a few months it's not quite right for us-so the sale proceeds are earmarked for a brand new one!), these chairs, my daughter's bed, and maybe this chair and ottoman, although the chairs might go on Craig's List because I'm asking a little more than garage sale prices.
Just letting you know, we're getting ready for an epic garage sale soon, and I'll probably be scarce on the internet this week. I want to spend every ounce of energy and spare second purging and preparing. However, it's already time for the Best of the Nest Link Party again on Friday, so I'll be back then to see what lovely projects from May you have to show off!
Wish me luck...I'm going in...
Good luck! I went through the brutal purge before we moved and it was brutal! :) At least 10 car loads to Salvation Army. The sad thing is, I can actually still things to get rid of that made it all the way to Germany with us. How is it possible?! It's crazy the amount of "stuff" that we didn't even know we had. Ugh. It makes my husband and I cringe every time we think about our packing up and purging days. You will feel great when it's done! :) Here's to clearing it out and having some breathing room!!
ReplyDeletethis is inspiring me! i need to do some of the same.
ReplyDeleteIt feels sooo good to purge! I can't tell you how much I got rid of before we moved (including my drawer of candles - yes, I had that too!). There's nothing I sold or gave away that I regret one bit, even the things that were harder to part with. Good luck with your clean out!
ReplyDeletemoving has definitely made me get rid of anything extra! It feels so good!!
ReplyDeleteIt feels so good to purge! I feel like my whole house just feels better! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteIt will feel SO good!! My friend and I just set the plan in motion for another garage sale, too! Have fun! :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer, I did the big purge earlier this Spring. I can't begin to tell you how many bags I loaded into the SUV and took them to the Salvation Army. The rest were placed out for garbage pickup. It was so freeing to let it all go!
ReplyDeleteGood for you!!! Purging is sooooo good for the soul. Although I find that an actual yard sale (vs. selling on Facebook yard sales or CL) takes years off my life…the prep and the day of :) We have moved 4 times in our 17 years of married life and so I have purged as a result of that. And yet I too have drawers (my entire dresser in my foyer) filled with candles too!!!!!! I so "get" you Jennifer. And I'm traumatized that I live too far away from you to buy all your castoffs. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do well!
ReplyDeleteI am constantly purging...military moves will do that to you! Plus, we lived in Ukraine for two assignments, and that'll change perspective on stuff. I've been praying for my mom to get the bug; I've told her before that she really doesn't want to leave "stuff" as her legacy and to get rid of things we kids aren't interested in having one day and spend their time and resources investing in what will truly last. Hope your sale is a success in many ways!
ReplyDeleteI get to this point every so often and it always feels so GOOD after a purposeful purge!
ReplyDeleteMe too! It has been my mission this year to purge and get rid of everything, Even those things I might need for staging furniture, etc. If I am not completely in love with it it's gone!
ReplyDeleteAngela @ Number Fifty-Three
Good Luck Jennifer...I so need to tackle our storage room!!
ReplyDeleteI hear you on this one! Bit by bit, I've been doing the same thing and it feels SO darn good! It's so freeing!
ReplyDeleteI am so ready or beyond ready to clean out, too!!
ReplyDeleteYou're going to feel so much better and "lighter" once you do this! I got rid of SO much last year when I moved and I'm still clearing out. It's all just "things" and if I don't love it or use it, it's gone! I know you have so many wonderful things...you should really make a haul money wise. Good luck!
ReplyDeletexo
Pat
Isn't it incredible how much and how quickly we all can accumulate? I am usually a pretty good purger (learned from my mother) but still have too many weak moments of impulse buying. Good luck with your garage sale! Wish I lived close enough to come shopping ;)
ReplyDeleteI might be interested in some of your pieces for our next model home! Would you be interested in letting me preview your items? I could stop by later this week. You can email me at Beth@beaconfinehomes.com. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteI might be interested in some of your pieces for our next model home! Would you be interested in letting me preview your items? I could stop by later this week. You can email me at Beth@beaconfinehomes.com. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteI soooo need to purge my bedroom closet! I keep thinking someone will do it for me but no luck so far! :) The main reason that I hesitate is because it makes such a mess to clean everything out!
ReplyDeleteShelia
www.houseofhighlands.com
I need to have a large garage sale, I really do. My dad melts all these leftover candles and makes new ones which end up being pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteSo freeing isn't it? I have been doing this the past couple weeks because 12 years of stuff was becoming too much! xoxo
ReplyDeleteUggghhh, I have that part to take care of too. Now that it's warm enough, everything that's been thrown into our other garage needs to be dealt with too! Good luck with your sale, I plan to piggy-back with a friend who's moving and do mine with hers sometime this summer too. It will be my first, so wanna know how yours goes.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother called this 'riding' and she was a genius at it. I love to do a good riding at least once a year. Its good for the soul. :)
ReplyDeleteHa, I have a kitchen junk drawer (which I clean often) but your candle drawer takes the cake! After going through two big moves in the last five years, I have learned to downsize, and use only what I absolutely love. I used to be like you, and save things for the what ifs, but I am so much happier being (or maybe just feeling) de-cluttered now. Good luck with you garage sale.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering how you got in my house to take those pictures of my drawers! Girl, we are so simpatico, and we are going through the same thing here. We lived 15 out of 20 years in the Air Force all over Europe and we collected a lot of stuff. It is hard letting go of things but it feels good too. I think the way that we keep our surroundings reflects the way we live in other areas of our lives as well. So more and more I try to let go of the things, thin out, and live life freely, without restraints.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling the same way! I'm so tired of all the clutter!
ReplyDelete